ROBERT KEENAN FROM ANGUS SENTENCED AFTER DISTURBING INCIDENT WITH SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN ANGUS
In August 2011, a disturbing incident involving Robert Keenan, a 24-year-old man from Angus, came to light, leading to his conviction and subsequent placement on the sex offenders register.The case drew significant attention due to the nature of the offense and the circumstances surrounding it.
According to court records, Keenan engaged in inappropriate behavior towards a young girl, aged just seven years old.
During the incident, he sat the girl on his knee and expressed his desire to kiss her, stating, "I’d like to kiss you and I would like to go out with you." This act was part of a series of troubling actions that caused alarm and distress to the young girl involved.
During police interviews, Keenan admitted that he was tempted to kiss the girl but ultimately refrained because he believed she did not look old enough.
Despite this, his actions in the presence of the child were deemed inappropriate and concerning.
In addition to being placed on the sex offenders register for a period of three years, Keenan was subject to strict court orders.
He was prohibited from having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 17, a measure intended to protect minors from potential harm.
The incident in question occurred on February 2 in a communal front garden, where Keenan's behavior was described as disorderly.
Court documents detailed that he approached the young girl, repeatedly picked her up, cradled her in his arms, swung her around, and placed her on his knee.
He also wrapped his arms around her stomach and made suggestive remarks, actions that caused the girl to feel fear and alarm.
These behaviors were considered a breach of the peace and contributed to the severity of his sentencing.
Prior to sentencing, the case was heard at Arbroath before Sheriff Charles McClory.
The sheriff deferred the final decision to allow for a social work report and risk assessment to be completed, which would inform the court’s judgment.
At that time, Sheriff McClory chose not to place Keenan on the sex offenders register until the reports were available.
Keenan’s defense attorney, Billy Rennie, highlighted that his client suffers from myotonic dystrophy, a chronic inherited disorder that affects multiple systems in the body and progresses slowly.
Rennie also noted that Keenan has learning disabilities, which he argued should be taken into account during sentencing.
Ultimately, Sheriff Derek Pyle imposed a community payback order for three years, including a supervision requirement.
Keenan was also banned from having unsupervised contact with children under 17 and was ordered to reside only in accommodation approved by his supervising officer.
Additionally, he was mandated to participate in programs run by the Tay Project, which offers support and intervention for adult offenders convicted of sexual offenses.
When asked if he understood the conditions of his sentence, Keenan responded affirmatively with a simple, “Yes.” The court’s decision reflects a serious approach to safeguarding minors and addressing the conduct exhibited by Keenan in Angus.
